Automatic hog feeder



1m28, 1952 G M.VARNE!R 2,821,370

AUTOMATIC HOG FEEDER "Filed July 24, 195e s sheets-sheet 1 Garry M. l/amer V vWWE/WOR. f

Fig 2 Jan. 2,8, 1958 Q M,'VARN ER zl? AUTouAm Hoc; FEEDER Filed July 24, 1956 f i 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig .43

i" so Garry M. Var/wr J INVENTOR.

Jan. 28, 1958 l G. M. VARNER zz'@ *E AUTOMATIC Hoe FEEDER Filed July 24, 195e s sheets-sheet s 6 Garry M. Var/7er INVENTOR.

United States Patentl Oce 2,821,370 Patented Jan. 28, 1958 AUTOMATIC HOG EFEEDER Garry M."Varner,`Soddy, Tenn.

Application '.uly V124, 1956,:Seal.No.-599,855

L Claims. (Cl. 259-510,)

This invention ygenerally relates to an automatic -feed- ;.in'g :device and more particularly :relates to a fdevice for automatically mixing fdry feed with ;1iquid and :dispensing the same.

`In feeding certain types yof livestock such as ,hogs tor -the like, itis .necessary .thatsuch animals ,be `fed at,.prede :termined time intervals Afor :the :most :eective nutrition. .In particular, v.theteeding `ofhogs .usually requires-the mixiing of azdry food `withtaliquid which is ,more appetizing to :the .hogs andmore readilydigestible. Since .itfisfneces- :sary tto feed the animals fat-regularintervals, it .sometimes Yoccurs that thegpersons raisingthe livestackare seriously `iuconvenienced by the necessity of `preparing the vfeed or -are :unable `to prepare :the .feed at the Jproper time. .Ac- =cordingl -y, .it isthe primarfysobject of the ,presen-t zinvention `to provide an Vautomaticfhog feederwhich will automati- .cally dispense the dryifeed @into 4amixingAreceptacle'alcng with a 1proper yamount of yliquid such las water ,and thoroughly `mix :the ingredients and `dump Athe .same .intova .suitable Vtrough .or the :like such as sa `hog `.trough Awithout -the v.necessity of human control.

The -present invention incorporates a :dry Ifeed adispensing lapparatus in .the :form of a rotatable ldrum .together with ;aj pivotal .receptacle receiving the dry-feed and means `for discharging water i or .liquid :into .the dry yfeed and .also means .for mixing the --ingredients and .dumping `the .re-

ceptacle at 4predetermined .time intervals .during .the day withall of Dthe.operations being automatic .and properly timed.

-Other .objects `of thefpresentinvention will .reside fin .its

k.simplicity .of construction, .-eiciency vof operation, .time .saving featuresfand yits ,relatively inexpensive manufactur- .ing icost. v

These together with otherobjects andadvantages which willybecome subsequently .apparent reside inthe details of 4constructionand .operation as ,more fully hereinafter `de- .scribed 4and claimed, reference :being :had .to .the .accom- ,panying drawings forming .a ,parthereoh wherein .like numerals refer to likeparts throughout,.and in which:

YFigure V1 .is a side elevational view of fthe automatic hogeeder .of .the present invention .with zportions of the .supporting .frame .being lbro'ken ,away :illustrating the del spout'and `rotatable:drum as rwell as tthef mining receptacle;

#Figufe 5 iis1apartial'sideelevation similar :to iFigure 1 illustrating ffurther struetu1=aldetails f df the driving mech- .anism;

Figure 56 `is 'an yenlarged side Lelevation `with `pclfticns 2 broken away illustrating the dumping mechanism `in operationgand,

ligure`7is `a detail-ed sectional viewcf the'c'ontrol valve for the discharge conduit as well as the :operating means therefor.

Referring now `specifically to .the drawings, vthe numeral 10 generally designates the lautomatic hog -feeder of 'the present :invention which :incorporates a supporting `frame having 'a lplurality of vertical uprights designated by the numeral 12 which are interconnected by longitudinal members 14 and `.transverse members T16 '-all of which `cooperate to form a substantially rigid supporting frame which 'may be mounted fon'any suitable surface-or which may be .made portable if desired.

Apair :of upwardly inclinedsupport braces 18 are interconnected and form bearing members 20 for la transverse shaft .22 on which :iszmounted .an enlarged Acylindrical hol- ,low drum 24 which iis provided with .an inwardly -`extend- 4ingrecessl inthe periphery thereof for registry with the discharge iendiof ya dnyteed dispensing .spout 28 `which is `mount-ed tabove the Adrum .An electric :motor 5.0 :is mounted ,adjacent the :bottom `.0.1" the supporting :.rame Vand is provided with a "power pulley:32thawingtawV-beltll:encirclingthe same. 'The V- t belt 34 also:encirclesanalignedfpulley 36 .onran :idler .shaft S8 Awhichfhas aIpu-lley sttlfon the outer end :thereof .and-also a pulley 42 on the inner end thereof. The pulley 42 is vin valignment with anfeularggedpulley 214 mountedzon an up- .ferring .rotational movement "to the 4shaft 52. )Mounted eccentrically lon the gpulley 5.0 is .aconnecting rod-58 hav- .ingthe free end'thereof connected to a `link 60 pivotally `mounted-:on an `upright 12 by pivot pin 62 wherein :rota- -ltionof the pulley will -lcause oscillation of the flink-f60 :about .pivot pin 62. The link s swings in ,substantially a 4.vertical pla-ne `and at `the lower end tthereof --is fp ivotally `mounted agenerally vrhorizontally vdisposed v.actuating arm ..64 having a.,downwardly facing lhook portion .66 -having an upwardly and outwardly inclined cam :surface 68 `for :engagement with a plurality of .flaterallyiextendingfpins .or pegs ymounted on the drum 24. When the motor ,30 .is.-actuated, the ,power is transferredlin an fobvious manner :to the pulley 50 which causes .movement of t-hefconnec-ting frod58 lforrpivoting the link .60 in A,oscig-llatory.manner ,for `generally reciprocating the .arm 164 wherein 'the A,cam surface 68 will ride over .afpin 70 and when .the .arm `6d is drawn aback `towards the shaft 52, .the drum ,.24 will be .rotated due .to ,the .tangential.forceexerted by rthe arm 64.

Disposed'between two upr'ig'hts 12 ,adjacent .the bottom ofthe support 'frame and forwardly-.of the .drum 24 is a 'mixing receptacle 72 mounted on a Ytransverse, .shaft 74.

"The sha'ft 74 extends outwardly'beyond the verticalframe member '.1`2 and terminates ina pulley 76 in alignment with the pulley 40 and a V-belt 7S encirc'les the aligned pulleys 4'0 and 76 for rotating the shaft 74 which'has .a mixer .8.0 mounted thereon. lThe mixer .80 is provided withaplurality ^of radial arms'82 each of'which is formed `substantially asa-transverse loop for 'tiroroughly'agitating theimaterialdepos'ited-'in thereceptacle '72, Aszillustrated `"irFigure 4, the bottom'of the receptacle72 issubstantialy line 90 attached thereto is disposed alongside the drum 24 whereby a projecting lug or pin 100 on the drum 24l will cause the end of the arm 96 to swing downwardly substantially as illustrated in Figure 6 which will move the rear end of the receptacle 72 upwardly for dumping the Asarne substantially as illustrated in Figure 6.

The enlarged pulley 44 on the shaft 46 is provided v with a laterally extending eccentric pin 102 which is received in the U-shaped end 104 of an elongated actuating lever 106 which is secured to a transverse shaft 108 of a T- shaped agitator 110 which has the shaft'108 disposed at the juncture between the transverse and perpendicular portion of the T-shaped agitator 110 which is disposed in Athe discharge spout 28 for assuring proper filling of the recess 26 in the drum 24 when the recess is aligned with the spout 28. Thus, it will be seen that the motor 30 operates the mixer, rotates the drum 24, agitates the material in the hopper or spout 28 for assuring proper lling of the recess 26 and dumps the receptacle 72. The relative sizes of the pulleys assure proper rotational speeds of the various driven mechanisms.

. Disposed to one side of the supporting frame is an auxiliary supporting frame generally designateed by the numeral 112 having a tank or barrel 114 resting thereon in substantially a horizontal position. Referring now specically to Figure 7, the numeral 116 indicates the end of the tank 144 nearest the drum 24. Disposed on the inner surface of the end wall 116 is a cylindrical guard 118 having an inlet of aperture 120 in the end wall thereof forming an inlet and outlet tube 122 disposed in an aperture 124 in the end wall 116. The discharge tube 122 is connected to a discharge conduit 126 at the outer end thereof with this conduit extending alongside the supporting frame and extending through la vertical support member 12 and extending 1nto overlying relation to the receptacle 72 for discharging water into the receptacle 72 in a manner controlled by a discharge valve 128. The discharge valve 128 is provided With an elongated stem 130 mounted in depending lugs 132 in the discharge tube 122. Longitudrnal movement of the stem 130 will move the valve 128 onto or away from the inner end of the discharge tube 122. The valve 128 may be constructed of a resilient material or any similar material which will be long-lasting and will engage the end of the tube 122 in sealing relation.

The stem 130 is provided with an outwardly extending lug 134 to which an actuating rod 136 is connected by a U-shaped lower end 138 with the upper end thereof being supported from pivot lugs 140. The tensioned coil spring 142 extends between the arm 136'and a vertical support member 12 for urging the valve 128 to lclosed position. An elongated actuating lever 144 is connected to the arm 136 adjacent the center thereof and extends through an aperture 146 in the vertical support 12 and terminates in a pivotal connection with an operating arm 148 having one move the cam 154 under the roller 152 thereby moving' the arm 144 inwardly and also moving the arm 136 inwardly for moving the stem 130 and valve 128 inwardly for opening the valve and permitting discharge of liquid or water through the conduit 126. As illustrated, the discharge tube 122 has a relatively small slot for accommodating the pivotal movement of the arm 136 with the slot a receptacle pivotally mounted on said frame, a powered being designated by the numeral 156. Inasmuch as the valve 128 is only off of the valve seat for a relatively short time, negligible leakage of liquid will be lost through the slot 156. Since this liquid is usually water, the amount of water lost through such slot would not impair the etliciency of the device. If desired, a suitable seal could be provided for this slot.

The electric motor 30 is connected to a suitable electrical conductor -158 that is connected through a set of holding points 160 having electrical conductors 162 connected to a timer clock wherein the timer clock may be arranged and so constructedto provide a feeding operation at various predetermined intervals such as every six hours or every twelve hours. As soon as the timer clock energizes the set of points 160, the set of points 160 hold the electrical circuit in energized position until such time as a cornplete cycle of the automatic hog feeder 10 has been cornpleted and this cycle includes a single complete revolution of the drum 24 which revolution includes the receiving of dry feed from the hopper 28 into the recess 26 after which the dry feed along with water from the tank 114 is discharged into the mixing bucket 72 wherein the mixer thoroughly agitates the water and dry feed thereby assur- Aing a homogeneous mass after which the mixing receptacle 72 is dumped. The recess 26 is provided with a pivotally adjustable bottom 27 maintained in adjusted position by a fastener 29 extending through a slot 31 in an arcuate end plate 33 for permitting adjustment of the size of the recess thereby adjusting the quantity of dry feed discharged into the receptacle during each cycle of operation. 'Ihe 'bracket having the pivot lugs 150 thereon is longitudinally adjustably mounted on a support 149 mounted on frame `12. The support 149 is provided with a slot 151 for adjustably receiving a clamp bolt 153 on the bracket. This permits increase or decrease in the quantity of water discharged into the receptacle thereby maintaining the water and dry feed ratio in a desired relation. Also the cylindrical guard 118 is in the form of a solid walled enclosure of with a single inlet opening 120 in the end wall and a ver- :114.' This enclosure 118 acts as a pressure resistor or control device for controlling the inow of water into entical air tube 121 extending through the top of the barrel closure 118 for generally providing a constant water pressure during the outlet cycle of the water regardless of the level of water in barrel 114. This assures that substantially the same amount of water will be discharged for each cycle of operation. The entire operation of the device is completely automatic and by providing a proper timer clock, the operation of the device may be controlled so that it is only necessary that a person feeding the animals replenish the supply of water or liquid in the tank 114 and replenish the supply of dry feed in the hopper 28 as the need may occur which would not require the presence of persons for each feeding operation since the receptacle 72 may dump, the mixed feed directly into a hog trough or other trough accessible to live stock.

From the foregoingythe construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A device for automatically mixing liquid and dry feed and dispensing the same comprising a support frame, means for supplying dry feed, means for supplying liquid,

mixer rotatable in said receptacle, a rotatable dispensing drum for receiving dry feed from the feed supply means and dumping a quantity of dry feed into the receptacle,

, means operated by saiddrum for discharging the liquid into saidreceptaele, fand means operated --by said drum for dumping said lreceptacle andthe mixed feed therein.

2. A device for automatically mixing Aliquid and dry feed and dispensingthe-same comprising a support "frame,

lmeans forsuppl-yingdry feed, Ameans for 41supplying liquid, fa receptacle pivotally -mounted on *said frame, a powered mixer rotatable 4in said receptacle, a rotatable Adispensing drum for dumping a quantity of dry feed into the receptacle, means operated by said drum for discharging the liquid into said receptacle, and means operated by said drum for dumping said receptacle and the mixed feed therein, said drum being cylindrical and provided with a recess in the periphery thereof, said means for supplying dry feed including a hopper having a discharge spout in engagement with the upper portion of the drum for lling said recess during each revolution of the drum.

3. A device for automatically mixing liquid and dry feed and dispensing the same comprising a support frame, means for supplying dry feed, means for supplying liquid, a receptacle pivotally mounted on said frame, a powered mixer rotatable in said receptacle, a rotatable dispensing drum for receiving dry feed from the feed supply means and dumping a quantity of dry feed into the receptacle, means operated by said drum for discharging the liquid into said receptacle, and means operated by said drum for dumping said receptacle and the mixed feed therein, said liquid supply means including a tank, a discharge conduit communicating with the tank and the receptacle, a valve for controlling the flow of liquid through the conduit, and a cam on said drum for actuating said valve and constituting the means operated by said drum for discharging the liquid into the receptacle.

4. A device for automatically mixing liquid and dry feed and dispensing the same comprising a support frame, means for supplying dry feed, means for supplying liquid, a receptacle pivotally mounted on said frame, a powered mixer rotatable in said receptacle, a rotatable dispensing drum for receiving dry feed from the feed supply means and dumping a quantity of dry feed into the receptacle, means operated by said drum for discharging the liquid into said receptacle, and means operated by said drum for dumping said receptacle and the mixed feed therein, said receptacle being mounted on a central shaft, said mixer being rotatably mounted on said shaft and including a plurality of radial arms, each of said arms being in the form of a transverse loop, said receptacle having a rounded inner surface whereby the arms are disposed adjacent the inner surface for thoroughly mixing the liquid and dry feed into a homogeneous mass.

5. A device for automatically mixing liquid and dry feed and dispensing the same comprising a support frame, means for supplying dry feed, means for supplying liquid, a receptacle pivotally mounted on said frame, a powered mixer rotatable in said receptacle, a rotatable dispensing drum for receiving dry feed from the feed supply means and dumping a quantity of dry feed into the receptacle, means operated by said drum for discharging the liquid into said receptacle, and means for dumping said receptacle and the mixed feed therein, said means for dumping said receptacle including a pivotal lever mounted on said frame, a line interconnecting the lever and the receptacle for dumping said receptacle upon pivotal movement of the lever, said lever extending alongside said drum, and a projecting lug on said drum for engaging the lever and pivoting the same for dumping said receptacle.

6. A device for automatically mixing liquid and dry feed and dispensing the same comprising a support frame, means for supplying dry feed, means for supplying liquid, a receptacle pivotally mounted on said frame, a powered mixer rotatable in said receptacle, a rotatable dispensing drum for dumping a quantity of dry feed into the receptacle, means operated by said drum for discharging the liquid into said receptacle, and means operated by said drum for dumping said receptacle and the mixed feed therein, said drum being cylindrical and provided with a recessin the periphery thereof, ...said means for vsupplying Fdry feed/including a hopper :having a discharge spout in engagement with the upper portionof 4the drum forlling .said .recess during each revolution of the drum, said liquid `supply means including a tank, fa 'discharge conduit -communicating with the tank :and :the receptacle, a val-ve for Acontrolling 'the iiow of liquid through the conduit, and a cam .fon said zdrumffor .actuating -said valve and constituting `the :means operated by said :drum for discharging liquid into the receptacle.

7. A device for automatically mixing liquid Iand :dry feed and dispensing the same comprising a support frame, means for supplying dry feed, means for supplying liquid, a receptacle pivotally mounted on said frame, a powered mixer rotatable in said receptacle, a rotatable dispensing drum for dumping a quantity of dry feed into the receptacle, means operated by said drum for discharging the liquid into said-receptacle, and means operated by said drum lfor dumping said receptacle and the mixed feed therein, said drum being cylindrical and provided with a recess in the periphery thereof, said means for supplying dry feed including a hopper having a discharge spout in engagement with the upper portion of the drum for filling said recess during each revolution of the drum, said liquid supply means including a tank, a discharge conduit communicating with the tank and the receptacle, a valve for controlling the ow of liquid through the conduit, and a cam on said drum for actuating said valve and constituting the means operated by said drum for discharging liquid into the receptacle, said receptacle being mounted on a central shaft, said mixer being rotatably mounted on said shaft and including a plurality of radial arms, each of said arms being in the form of a transverse loop, said receptacle having a rounded inner surface whereby the arms are disposed adjacent the inner surface for thoroughly mixing the liquid and dry feed into a homogeneous mass.

8. A device for automatically mixing liquid and dry feed and dispensing the same comprising a support frame, means for supplying dry feed, means for supplying liquid, a receptacle pivotally mounted on said frame, a powered mixer rotatable in said receptacle, a rotatable dispensing drum for dumping a quantity of dry feed into the receptacle, means operated by said drum for discharging the liquid into said receptacle, and means for Vdumping said receptacle and the mixed feed therein, said drum being cylindrical and provided with a recess in the periphery thereof, said means for supplying dry feed including a hopper having a discharge spout in engagement with the upper portion of the drum for filling said recess during each revolution of the drum, said liquid supply means including a tank, a discharge conduit communicating with the tank and the receptacle, a valve for controlling the flow of liquid through the conduit, and a cam on said drum for actuating said valve and constituting the means operated by said drum for discharging liquid into the receptacle, said receptacle being mounted on a central shaft, said mixer being rotatably mounted on said shaft and including a plurality of radial arms, each of said arms being in the form of a transverse loop, said receptacle having a rounded inner surface whereby the arms are disposed adjacent the inner surface for thoroughly mixing the liquid and dry feed into a homogeneous mass, said means for dumping said receptacle including a pivotal lever mounted on said frame, a line interconnecting the lever and the receptacle for dumping said receptacle upon pivotal movement of the lever, said lever extending alongside said drum, and a projecting lug on said drum for engaging the lever and pivoting the same for dumping said receptacle.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said hopper includes a powered agitator for assuring filling of the recess in the drum.

l0. A machine for automatically mixing liquid and dry feed and dumping the mixture into a feed trough,l

lsaid .machine comprising a frame, a drum rotatably imountedon said frame, said drum having-means .for receiving a charge of dry feed at one vpoint 'during the 'charging a quantity of liquid into the receptacle, a powered agitator rotatably mounted in said receptacle, and means operated by said drum for tilting said receptacle and 10` dumping the mixture therefrom.

References Cited in the le of this patent Y UNITED STATES PATENTS 225,213 I Dieryckx MayA 9, 1880 Olney May 15, 1917 Temple Sept. 30, 1924 Brayerv Sept. 16, 1941 

